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Rebecca Makkai’s novel, “I Have Some Questions for You“, is an intriguing and suspenseful work that explores how individuals may be constrained within their biases.
The book has a unique premise and presents a complicated whodunit fueled by feminist rage as Bodie relentlessly interrogates her past and recalls the countless murders of girls and women whose stories have been all but lost in our collective memory.
The story follows 40-year-old Bodie Kane, a Los Angeles-based journalist who hosts a podcast on women in film, who is invited back to her alma mater, a New Hampshire boarding school in winter, to teach a two-week workshop. Bodie was an outsider in her youth, withdrawing from her narcissistic mother and later adopted by a local Indiana couple with ties to the school.
As a student, she remained aloof from her classmates, who were a medley of skiers and international pupils, and neglected scions of the well-heeled. She had lurked on the margins, sporting Goth eyeliner and taped-up Doc Martens, assisting Mr. Bloch, the music-department guru, with tech functions and stage management. The narrative is ostensibly addressed to Mr. Bloch, and Bodie has a whole lot of questions for him.
The Central Plotline
The central plotline involves a murder mystery surrounding the death of Thalia Keith, Bodie’s junior-year roommate, who was found drowned in the gymnasium’s pool after a performance of “Camelot.” The cast had already dispersed to nearby woods, where they were tossing back beers. DNA evidence pointed to Omar Evans, a 25-year-old Black athletic trainer, who confessed under relentless police interrogation.
He later recanted the confession, but was sentenced to prison, where he’s languished for over two decades. Bodie is troubled by the murder of Thalia, who was a beautiful, popular, privileged, and white girl. She suggests to her students that they should investigate the case since a handful of internet sleuths believe the authorities got the wrong guy.
As her students dig into the case, Bodie revisits her memories from over 20 years ago and wonders if she got some things wrong. Were the cool kids really not as cool as she thought they were? Was it possible that Denny Bloch, the charismatic music teacher she revered, was a sexual predator who was grooming Thalia and may in fact have killed her?
The novel is a sleekly plotted literary murder mystery that has a major red herring and intricate plot twists. While most of the characters are straight out of central casting, the protagonist, Bodie, is a complicated and problematic narrator.
Should your book club read it? The answer likely depends on whether you prefer novels that emphasize plot or character. Makkai, a lyrical writer whose last book was the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist “The Great Believers,” has gone all-in on the former.
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An Interrogation of the Truth
Makkai’s exploration of the concept of truthiness is one of the novel’s most thought-provoking aspects. At the heart of “I Have Some Questions for You” is the idea that our memories of events can be flawed, manipulated by our biases and circumstances.
Bodie, who is admittedly an unreliable narrator, interrogates her own memory of the events surrounding Thalia’s death, revealing how memories can be altered and distorted over time. This is further highlighted in the character of Fran, who was Thalia’s roommate and is now a teacher at Granby. She also grapples with her own culpability in the tragedy and how her memories may not be entirely accurate.
The novel also delves into the effects of power dynamics and privilege, exploring how they shape people’s lives and experiences. The students’ investigation into Thalia’s murder reveals the ways in which the school’s culture allowed for abuses of power and the silencing of marginalized voices. Makkai takes a nuanced approach to this topic, exploring how privilege can both benefit and harm individuals.
A Bold and Ambitious Mystery
“I Have Some Questions for You” is a bold and ambitious mystery that tackles complex issues with intelligence and nuance. It’s a book that’s sure to spark lively discussions in book clubs and classrooms, and its themes and ideas will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the final page. Makkai’s writing is evocative and poetic, capturing the mood and atmosphere of Granby and its surrounding areas.
The novel’s plot is intricately crafted, with plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. However, the book’s 500-page length may be a deterrent to some readers who prefer shorter books. Despite this, Makkai keeps the pace brisk and the tension high, making it difficult to put the book down.
Verdict
In conclusion, “I Have Some Questions for You” by Rebecca Makkai is a novel that is well worth reading. With a unique premise and a complicated whodunit fueled by feminist rage, the book is an engrossing work that delves into the biases that constrain individuals. The novel is a sleekly plotted literary murder mystery that has intricate plot twists, and although most of the characters are straight out of central casting, the protagonist is a complicated and problematic narrator.
It also combines elements of dark academia, true crime, and #MeToo. It’s a novel that takes risks, tackling complex issues with intelligence and nuance. While it may not be for everyone, readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries and stories that grapple with big ideas will find much to admire in Makkai’s latest work. With this book, Makkai cements her place as one of the most talented and ambitious writers working today.
Overall, this book is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a suspenseful and thought-provoking mystery.
I hope you enjoyed my book review for “I Have Some Questions for You“ by Rebecca Makkai! And as always, I wish you happy reading! ❤️